Interlocking switch.



A. 5. LA RUE. INTERLOGKING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.7, 1911.

1,051,422.. Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

[JVVENTOR fllbez-i J mm U) Q )Allarm V-VITNESSES ALBERT JAY LA. RUE, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

IN TERLOCKIN G SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

Application filed October 7, 1911. Serial No. 653,405.

I '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT J. Li RUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Interlocking Switches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to railway switches and has special reference to that class of railway switches in which the switch is provided with a switch mechanism that is au tomatieally acted upon by the passage of a car wheel over a projection connected with said mechanism.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved apparatus of this kind by means of which the switch mechanism is set for operation by a car wheel acting upon said mechanism and is acted upon by a projection from the car.

The invention further has for its object to provide a switch mechanism of this kind in which the switch is unlocked and locked by the action of the switch mechanism.

Vith these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 is a plan View of a portion of a main rail, a guard rail and switch, and a switch operating mechanism secured thereto and constructed in accordance with this invention. lc'ig. 2 is a side view in longitudinal section looking at the opposite side of the parts shown in Fig. 1, showing a portion of a car wheel and a projection from the car for operating the switch mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective of a plate employed for locking the switch. Fig. 4.- is a plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1, with the covering of the casing removed. Fig. 5 is a side view in longitudinal section showing the switch op erating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of one of the casings of the switch operating mechanism with a portion of said mechanism removed. Fig. 7 is a detail end view of the main rail and a casing attached thereto with a portion of the car wheel and the projection from the switch operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a port-ion of the switch operating scribed.

at its forward end which mechanism removed from one of the easings. Fig. 9 is a detail View in perspective of a part of the switch operating mechanism.

In carrying out the invention a pair of casings for inclosing the switch operating mechanism are employed which are connected together by a pipe or other form of hollow connection of any desired length according to the distance that the two casings may be located apart from each other.

In the present instance the casings are shown as connected closely together, the casmg 1 being secured in any suit-able manner, as by means of bolts, to the web of the main rail 2 and the other casing being secured to the guard. rail as hereinafter deis in the form of an oblong box, is a longi tudinal vertical plate 3 having an extension abuts against a vertical wall 5 of the casing and has adja cent to its rear end a pair of lateral projections 4 bearing against the sides of the casing and holding it in position. Located on one side of the plate 3 is an oblong plate (3 serving as a lever and having at its rear end an oblong slot 7 into which projects the pin 8 mounted on one side of the plate 3. The rear end of the lever plate 6 is formed with a vertical projection 9 which extends through a hole in the top of the casing 1, projects slightly above the top of the casing 1 adjacent to the rail 2, and is adapted. to be pressed down by the flange of a car wheel passing over the same. A rod 10 projects from the arm 9, and is slidably supported at its outer end in a bracket 11 on the side of the plate 3, and between the bracket 11 and the projection 9 there is mounted on the rod 10 a coil spring 12, which serves to automatically retract the entire switch mechanism to normal position as hereinafter set forth. The lever plate 6 is pivotally connected at its outer end by a pin 13 to the enlargement 14.- on the lever arm 15 which has at its inner end an outwardly projecting curved arm 16 extending through an oblong slot- 17, in the top of the casing 1, located slightly in advance of the projection 9 and away from the rail 2. The other end of the lever arm 15 is pivotally connected by means of a lateral cylindrical member 18 with one end of a rod 19 which projects through an opening 20, in the forward end of the casing 1. A lateral cylindrical projection 18 has at Located in the casing 1, which a one end a pin 18 which is slidable between guides 18", the rod 19 being slidable between similar guides 18'. The forward end of the casing 1 is connected by a pipe or hollow connection 21 of any suitable length with a casing 22, which is bolted to the web of the guard rail 23.

The forward end of the rod 19 which projects into the casing 22 is pivotally connected with a pin 24 projecting up from one end of a triangular plate 25 having a broad curved end 26 which is normally seated against the collars 27 on a pair of pins 28 at one end of the casing 22. The lower end of the pin 24 is movable longitudinally in a slot 29 on a plate 30 mounted on the bottom of the casing 22, said slot 29 serving to guide the triangular plate 25 in its longitudinal movement. Located above the plate 25 is a plate 31 having holes 32 in its rear end engaging the pins 28 and a longitudinal slot 33 through which is movable the pin 24. On the under side of the plate 31 and at its forward end is pivotally connected a crescent-shaped plate 34 provided with a pivot pin 35 projecting through the plate 31 and having on its upper end a cam 36. The crescent shaped plate 34, which is adapted to oscillate, is limited in its movement by a pm 37 projecting from the plate 31 and located in an arcuate slot 38.

39 indicates a switch point which is pivotally connected by a rod 40 with the cam 36, the end of the rod 40 having an oblong slotted head 41 engaging the pin 42 on the cam 36 thereby providing for lost motion. In order to lock the switch a plate 43 is provided which is located above the plate 25 and is formed with an oblong opening 44 at at its rear end to permit of the reciprocating movement of the outer end of the rod 19. The plate 43 is provided at its rear end with projections 44 which engage the pins 28 and at its forward end with a tapering central projection 45, the connections 44 being loosely mounted on the pins 28 whereby the. lifting movement of the plate 43 is permitted. In order to raise the plate 43, so as to clear the cam 36, it is provided with a depending pin 46 which projects into an inclined recess 47 in a cam shaped proj ect-ion 48 on the triangular plate 25, by means of this construction as the plate 25 is moved forward by the rod 19, it will act through the inclined recess 47 upon the pin 42 to lift the plate 43 at its outer end so as to clear the cam 36 as it is swung laterally.

A brass slide plate 49 is located on the casing 1 beneath the top thereof and is provided with a felt packing 50 which is saturated with oil. By means of the plate 49 slidable parts in the casing 1 are kept lubricated and the water and dirt is kept out of the casing. The casings 1 and 22 may be made of pressed steel or of some rigid cast metal compound which will stand a severe shock or load.

In Fig. 2 is shown a car wheel 51 and a depending arm 52 which projects from the car, and is in control or operable by a person on the car.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows :-The arm 16 of the lever 15 is nor mally lowered within the casing 1. Then the flange of the wheel 51 of a car rides over the projection 9 it forces it down thereby acting onthe lever bar 6 to throw up the lever bar 15 and elevate the arm 16 through the slot 17 above the top of the casing 1 through the path of movement of the de pending arm 52. The arm 52 engaging the projection 16 as shown in Fig. 2 pushes the movable parts of the casing 1 forward thereby carrying forward the thrust bar 19 which in turn pushes forward the plate 25 in the casing 22 and the plate 25 acts on the oscillating plate 34 to move the same which in turn acts on switch 39. At the beginning of the movement of the plate 25 the pin 46 is acted upon by the inclined recess 47 to raise the plate 43 at its forward end thereby disengaging the triangular projection 45 from the cam 36 and unlocking the switch. The forward end of the plate 43 being elevated above the cam 36 as it is swung by the movement of the plate 34 upon the completion of the movement of the plate 34, the plate 43 is pivoted to drop with the projection 45 coming in looking contact with the opposite side of the cam 36, thereby locking the switch. This dropping of the plate 43 is caused by the rearward movement of the plate 25, the pin 46 moving down to the bottom of the inclined recess 47. The several movable parts of the switch mechanism in the casings 1 and 2 are automatically thrown back to normal position by the recoil of the spring 12 which in the forward movement of the parts has been compressed between the projection 9 and the bracket 11.

The several working parts are made of tool steel and are properly hardened where any wear is to take place. They are incased in oil, the casings 1 and 22 being filled with oil so that there is no chance of the parts being cut or weakened. By housing all the workable parts in oil the liability of water freezing about the parts is avoided and dust and grit is prevented from accumulating in the switch throwing mechanism.

lVhat I claim is 1. In an apparatus of the kind described, a switch, a switch throwing mechanism, a tilting plate for locking said switch throwing mechanism, a slidable plate adapted to operate said switch throwing mechanism and to tilt said tilting plate, a mechanism for operating said sliding plate adapted to be acted upon by a projection from a car,

the rod 40 to throw the and a coil spring connected with said mechanism for returning the same to normal position.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, a switch, a switch throwing mechanism, a tilting plate for locking said switch throwing mechanism, a slidable plate adapted to operate said switch throwing mechanism and to tilt said tilting plate, a mechanism for operating said sliding plate adapted to be acted upon by a projection from a car, and a coil spring connected with said mechanism for returning the same to normal position.

3. In an apparatus of the kind described, a main rail, a casing secured thereto, a longitudinally slidable lever arm in said casing having a projection extending through the top of the casing, a lever pivotally connected between its ends to one end of said lever arm and having a projection at one end movable through the top of the casing, a second casing mounted at a distance from the first named casing at one side of the track, a pipe connecting said casings, a thrust rod connected at one end with said lever arm and extending through said pipe into the second casing, a longitudinally slidable plate located in the second casing and pivotally connected to said thrust bar, an oscillating plate located in said casing and adapted to be acted upon by said slidable plate, a switch, a switch rod connecting said switch with said oscillating plate.

4. In an apparatus of the kind described, a main rail, a casing secured thereto, a longitudinally slidable lever arm in said casing having a projection extending through the top of the casing, a lever pivotally connected. between its ends to one end of said lever arm and having a projection at one end movable through the top of the casing, a second casing mounted at a distance from the first named casing, a thrust rod connected at one end with said lever arm and extending through said pipe into the second casing, a longitudinally slidable plate (rated in the second casing and pivotally connected to said thrust bar, an oscillating plate located in said. casing and adapted to be acted upon by said slidable plate, a switch, a switch rod connecting said switch with said oscillating plate, and a tilting locking plate acted upon by said slidable plate and adapted to engage and lock said oscillating plate.

5. I11 an apparatus of the kind described, a casing, a triangular plate movable longitudinally therein and having an inclined recess, an oscillating plate in said casing having a camshaped projection, a switch, a switch rod connecting said switch with said ca1n-shaped projection, a tilting plate located above said triangular plate having a depending pin located in the inclined recess in said plate, said tilting plate having a projection adapted to engage and lock said cam and switch, a mechanism for moving said triangular plate forward in engagement with said, oscillating plate, and means for automatically moving said triangular plate back to normal position.

6. In an apparatus of the kind described, a casing secured to one side of a main rail, of a track having openings in its top, a longitudinally movable lever in said casing having a vertical projection extending through an opening in the top of the casing, and a compression spring connected with said projection, a second lever pivotally connectcd between its ends to said first mentioned lever and having a vertically curved arm normally located within the casing and movable upward through an opening in the top of the casing, a second casing secured to a guard rail track, a tubular connection between said casing, a thrust rod connected at one end to one of said levers in the first named casing, and projecting into a second casing, a triangular plate longitudinally movable in the second casing connected by a pin in said thrust bar having an inclined recess in its top, a crescent shaped plate pivoted in said casing and having a cam-shaped projection, a switch, a switch rod connecting said cam shaped projection with said switch, a tilt-able plate located above said triangular plate and having a projection at its forward end adapted to engage and lock every side of said cam, a depending pin engaging said inclined recess in the triangular plate, and a projection on the first named lever being adapted to be acted upon by a car wheel to move the projection on the second named lever into operative position with an arm on a car.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT JAY LA RUE. itnesses C. L. HOPPER, ROBERT ANTIsDnL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

